GELINA, the JRC Neutron Time-of-Flight Facility (EUFRAT)

GELINA is an intense pulsed white neutron source, driven by a 130 MeV linear electron accelerator and used for high-resolution neutron time-of-flight measurements. The facility covers a neutron energy range from thermal energy to 15 MeV, has a time resolution of less than 2 ns (FWHM) and serves an array of flight paths up to 400 m long on which as many as 10 experiments can be carried out simultaneously. The facility is designed for high-resolution cross section measurements in the resonance region.

The high-intensity neutron and gamma ray fields close to the neutron-producing target can also be used for spectrum averaged and integral experiments. In addition, a dedicated beamline allows direct irradiations with a mono-energetic electron beam in the range between 20 and 130 MeV.

GELINA can be used for studying a variety of nuclear technology and scientific applications, covering areas such as applied physics, in particular nuclear energy applications, fundamental physics, astrophysics, material analysis, cultural heritage and archaeology, radiation-hard electronics development and radionuclide production for medical applications.

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Priority topics of GELINA

1. Neutron cross-section measurements for energy and non-energy nuclear applications
2. Measurements of neutron data standards
3. Integral experiments for the validation of nuclear data libraries and testing of nuclear transport codes
4. Investigations for a better understanding of the nuclear fission process.
5. Development of advanced detection methods and scientific concepts in nuclear technologies
6. Basic physics: nuclear reaction theory, nuclear astrophysics
7. Cross-section measurements and feasibility studies for medical radionuclide production

Definition and conditions of access

Access to the research infrastructure is granted based on Access Units (AU). For GELINA, the AU corresponds to a 'Measurement week' made available for the experimental activities. GELINA operates on a 24h/24h 5 days per week basis. An Access Unit is about 100 hours of beam time and includes the time to build up and to dismantle the experimental set-up (if needed). Depending on the proposed experiment, users can use their own equipment, JRC in-house equipment or a combination of both. This has to be indicated in the proposal and should be coordinated already a few weeks before the scheduled beam time. Preferentially, the users must collaborate closely with an in-house staff scientist (a local scientific contact) who is familiar with the facility and the in-house equipment.

All users will be requested to complete and deliver safety and security-related documents to get access to the nuclear facilities at GELINA. Approval of access is subject to the rules of the European Commission, the Joint Research Centre and the Belgian authorities. Submission of documents should therefore, be started in time to allow completion of the approval procedure well before the start of the experiment.

• Estimated total number of Access Units allocated to the call: 8 AU
• Average number of Access Units per Project: 8 AU
• Estimated maximum duration of the User Access Project: 36 months
• Estimated costs excluding consumables and expenses:
  • Research infrastructure operated by JRC staff: 0 €/AU
  • Research infrastructure operated by users: Not possible

Support of users for travel and subsistence

The JRC may provide a financial or in-kind contribution to support Users to cover their costs of Travel and Subsistence (T&S) related to the User Stay Days, subject to the availability of funds, personnel and other resources to Users from User Institutions located in an EU Member State or country associated to the Euratom Research Programme (only Ukraine).

A User Stay Day is a day of physical presence of a User at the concerned Research Infrastructure for Access related to the User Access Project. A User Stay Day counts as a registered entry to the JRC site where the Research Infrastructure is located.

• Estimated total number of User Stay Days for short- term stays eligible for T&S allocated to all EUFRAT calls: 240
• Estimated total number for long-term stays (months) eligible for T&S allocated to the EUFRAT calls: 24

A short-term stay corresponds to a stay of up to 20 User Stay Days.

A long-term stays corresponds to a stay exceeding 20 User Stay Days, up to a maximum of 200 User Stay Days.

For more information on the support offered to users, please consult the Rules on the contribution to travel and subsistence expenses of external users.

Long-term stays are primarily meant for undergraduate and graduate students and have a duration of at least one month.

The Lead User is welcomed to fill in the User travel and subsistence form and send it to JRC-OPEN-EUFRATec [dot] europa [dot] eu (JRC-OPEN-EUFRAT[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu) by the closing date of the call. For more information the Lead User may contact the JRC Research Infrastructure at JRC-OPEN-EUFRATec [dot] europa [dot] eu (JRC-OPEN-EUFRAT[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu).

Allocation of intellectual property rights

The JRC and the entitled party (person or organisation that has been granted access) become co-owners in equal shares of all raw data, treated data and documentation data developed with respect to the access.

Eligibility criteria

• The Lead User Institution and User Institutions (see definitions in the Framework) must be established in an EU Member State, or country associated to the Euratom research programme (at the time of publishing this call, the only country associated to the Euratom research programme is Ukraine).The scope of the work for nuclear RIs must be in line with the activities defined in Annex I of Council Regulation (Euratom) 2021/765.
• The Lead User Institution must be from a university, research or public institution, or from a Small-Medium-Enterprise (SME).
• User Institutions from international organisations, under the condition that the Lead User Institution and at least 2/3 of all the User Institutions (including the Lead User Institution) are located in a Member State or a country associated to Horizon Europe or to the Euratom research programme. In case of one or two User Institutions (including the Lead User Institutions), this requirement is only applied to the Lead User Institution.
• Ethical considerations in accordance with EU Law, in particular particular Art. 18 and Art. 19 of Regulation (EU) 2021/695, and applicable laws and regulations in the EU Member States.

Selection criteria

Proposals will be evaluated in accordance to the following selection criteria:

• Scientific implementation (50 points)
• Collaboration and access to new Users (20 points)
• Strategic relevance (30 points)

How to apply

The proposal must be prepared using the Relevance-driven Proposal Submission Form.

If the proposal includes a request to prepare a target at JRC, the Lead User must also fill in the EUFRAT Target preparation request and follow the instructions at the end of the form when submitting the proposal.

For GELINA the Lead User must also fill in the GELINA facility specification form following the instructions at the end of the form when submitting the proposal.

During preparation of the proposal, applicants are encouraged to:

• Read the "Framework for Access to the Physical Research Infrastructures of the JRC" and all related documents in the Framework for Access page.
• Contact the research infrastructure at JRC-OPEN-EUFRATec [dot] europa [dot] eu (JRC-OPEN-EUFRAT[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu) to assess feasibility aspects related to the capacity of the research infrastructure.

The proposal should be submitted to JRC-RI-OPEN-ACCESSec [dot] europa [dot] eu (JRC-RI-OPEN-ACCESS[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu) by the closing date of the call.

The User Selection Committee will only evaluate proposals that are complete and comply with the instructions in the proposal submission form.